Our Practice Policies

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception, or by reading the  Kimbolton Medical Centre Complaints Leaflet

This practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

Should you wish to “opt out” please follow the link above to the appropriate website.

This data extraction has now been delayed until 1st September 2021

National Opt-Out

Your health records contain a type of data called confidential patient information. This data can be used to help with research and planning.

You can choose to stop your confidential patient information being used for research and planning. You can also make a choice for someone else like your children under the age of 13.

Your choice will only apply to the health and care system in England. This does not apply to health or care services accessed in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

This information is also available in other languages and formats.

Information:

Coronavirus update

To help the NHS respond to coronavirus, your information may be used for coronavirus research purposes even if you have chosen not to share it. Any information used will be shared appropriately and lawfully.

What is confidential patient information

Confidential patient information is when 2 types of information from your health records are joined together.

The 2 types of information are:

• something that can identify you
• something about your health care or treatment

For example, your name joined with what medicine you take.

Identifiable information on its own is used by health and care services to contact patients and this is not confidential patient information.

How we use your confidential patient information

Your individual care

Health and care staff may use your confidential patient information to help with your treatment and care. For example, when you visit your GP they may look at your records for important information about your health.

Research and planning

Confidential patient information might also be used to:

• plan and improve health and care services
• research and develop cures for serious illnesses

Your choice

You can stop your confidential patient information being used for research and planning. Find out how to make your choice.

If you’re happy with your confidential patient information being used for research and planning you do not need to do anything.

Any choice you make will not impact your individual care.

GDPR privacy statement

This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital.

For more information about this see:  

https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/gpes-data-for-pandemic-planning-and-research/general-practice-transparency-notice

All GP Practices are required to declare the mean earnings (average pay ) for GP’s working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice. The average pay for GPs working in the practice in the financial year ended 31 March 2022 was £ 81,015 before tax and national Insurance .

This is for salaried GP’s who worked in the practice for more than 6 Months.

Online Access to Prospective Records

All practices nationally have been asked to provide patients with prospective access to their medical record from 31^st October 2023.  Access is via the NHS app and/or NHS website if you have a suitable NHS login.

Your GP medical record contains consultation notes based on conversations between you, your GP and their team: medicines prescribed to you; all test results including hospital investigations; allergies; vaccines; and your medical conditions along with documents that may have been sent from local hospitals, clinics or other agencies, eg. the police. There is likely to be sensitive and personal information within your medical record.

We are supportive of providing you with access to your record, but we wish to do this safely. You will need to understand the risks which may be involved in having such confidential data either on your smartphone with the NHS app installed or online if there is a possibility that other people might have access to that information through your devices. If you are in a difficult or pressured relationship for example, you may prefer your records to remain accessible only to those treating you, with them not appearing on your smartphone or online. Government has been clear that if a patient does not wish to have access, then we do not have to provide it.

For those who would like access, there are now different levels:

Everyone already has access to their medication history and allergies, and can order their repeat prescriptions, if they use the NHS App or have an NHS login set up.

As of 31^st October 2023 you will be able to request access to your prospective record which will allow you to see everything which gets added to your record starting from the date your request is approved.

For several years now it has also been possible to request access to what we call your retrospective ‘coded record’ where you can see historical data contained in your record.  The application process for this level of access can take much longer due to the workload involved and the need for a GP to review the whole of your medical record as part of the application process.

It’s important to remember that medical documents may, at times, contain information that could be upsetting, especially if they contain news of a serious condition. It can also be a cause for worry seeing results online when it isn’t clear what the results might mean, and no one is available to ask, as can be the case during the evening or at weekends, for example.

Sometimes people might prefer not to see information that remind them of difficult times in their life. Letters from healthcare providers sometimes need to go into detail about past events, and great consideration would be needed in deciding whether you would want to see these letters.

Consideration is also needed if there is a possibility that private details might cause harm at home, should people in a difficult or pressured relationship be forced to show their medical record to an abusive partner.

Requesting access to prospective records – what do I need to do?

The easiest way to get access is to create an NHS login through the NHS app. Although you can also access your GP records via the internet on a computer, the first bit is easiest if done through a smartphone. If you don’t have one, you may have a family member or friend you trust who can help you.

If you use the NHS app, you’ll have to set up an account using a unique e-mail address and then ‘authenticate’ yourself to the NHS system to prove you are who you say you are. This will involve confirming your name, date of birth and contact details. The NHS login has several levels of authentication and to gain access to your records you’ll need the highest level of authentication. This generally involves you recording a short video of yourself to prove you are a real person as well as uploading a copy of a suitable identification document.

Once you have suitably authenticated yourself to the NHS app and created your NHS login you can contact us and ask for access, being mindful of the risks associated with access and the importance of not sharing passwords or having them stored in your smartphone if you think other people might want to see them without your permission.

We will provide you with an application form (or you can download it (Application for prospective online access) to complete and bring back to the surgery with relevant items of identification.  Your application will then be passed to a GP for review.  As we are unsure as to how many people will ask for prospective access there may be a wait, but we will do our best to get you online access as soon as we can.

Privacy Notice – January 2024

Aims and Objectives

Kimbolton Medical Centre consists of dedicated and professional employees. Our aim is to provide the highest standard of clinical care to patients registered with the Practice, ensuring we work collaboratively with other healthcare providers and support organisations.

We aim:

· To understand the expectations of our patients

· To motivate and invest in our team and acknowledge their value

· To encourage all team members to participate in achieving our aims and objectives

· To clearly set and monitor targets in all areas

Our objectives

The objectives of the practice are to deliver a service of high standard in line with professional standards and:

· To be accountable for individual and team performance

· To support each other in achieving patient expectations

· To maintain the highest professional and ethical standards

· To rapidly respond to the needs of our team and our patients

· To ensure our staff are trained and competent through investment and personal development

· To ensure that patients are treated with honesty and integrity, in complete confidence and with the utmost discretion

There is a Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record.

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website.

The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.

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